Page 32 of A Laird and a Fugitive

Caroline twisted her face in confusion. Did he truly believe this? Was his mind so twisted with paranoia that he saw enemies everywhere? Her thoughts returned to the letter. She needed to know whether what he believed was true or not.

“Is there any proof that my uncle poisoned my Da?” she asked, her voice cracking on emotion.

Ryan pursed his lips as he stared at her. He came towards her and snatched the letter out of her hand.

“I bet ye would love tae know that, but dae ye honestly think I’m gaeing tae tell ye? What reason dae I hae tae trust ye? For all I know, ye delivered the poison tae yer Da yerself.”

“I would never dae that. I loved him.” Caroline glared at Ryan. “I will endure many indignities from ye, husband,” she spat the word, “but I shall nae hae this aspect of my character besmirched. I loved Da, and I would never hae killed him. If ye know of a plot against him then ye must tell me because I…” she trialed away, struggling for words.

“Because ye what? Will take revenge against yer uncle? Dinnae ye fear about that, lass, I hae the matter well in hand. Oh, and there’s another matter of which I want tae make ye aware,” he gestured for her to leave the study.

She had no choice but to obey, albeit sullenly. Flanked by guards, Ryan led her through the castle to a long hallway. At the end of which, she could see Nessa and Tara being escorted to a new room. They were too far away, so they did not catch a glimpse of her. He had done as she asked. Tension simmered within her heart. She was determined to know the truth, even if it meant that she would have to win his trust somehow, although she wasn’t sure this was possible given his suspicious nature.

Then she met his dark gaze.

“I will see ye taenight, my lady,” he whispered, brushing the small of her back with his hand, hinting at the promise she had made him earlier, only to touch him once her sisters had been freed from their room.

Her throat ran dry as the heat from his touch lingered, and a tingling sensation ran all the way through her body.

It was sheer torture.